Rotterdam combines maritime history, cultural discoveries and routes through very different landscapes. A short walk, a harbor tour or a longer route each offer a different focus. Historic ships, gardens and viewpoints also give a stay different directions.
Culture and traces of history
Laurenskerk is the only surviving medieval building in central Rotterdam. Its tower can be climbed almost every day via 365 steps. The storage and work spaces at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen welcome visitors daily. The tours are available without advance booking and last about ten minutes—a short activity with a clearly defined duration.
The Het Lage Licht lighthouse is the starting point for a visit to the Maritime Museum’s harbor museum. The steam crane “Simson” can be viewed; in its day, it was the largest floating steam crane in the Benelux. The “Time is Money” is a motorized sales vessel from 1962 and can still be viewed in the harbor museum. The Cube Houses are examples of Rotterdam’s monuments.
The Markthal offers a different mix: market stalls, shops and food establishments are all housed under one roof. Rotterdam therefore brings together different cultural perspectives—from a medieval building and maritime exhibits to a place where markets and dining come together.
Harbor tours and insights into the port
A whisper-boat tour operated by the Maritime Museum travels through the old city harbors, from Leuvehaven via Wijnhaven and Oude Haven to Haringvliet. The tour is dependent on the weather and skipper, so check in advance whether it is running. Spido offers a 75-minute tour on the Nieuwe Maas. The route passes container ships and historic shipyards. The duration gives you a concrete point of reference when planning a harbor tour as part of your stay.
Portlantis is an interactive experience center about the Port of Rotterdam. Guided expeditions venture beyond the harbor fences—by bus, boat or on foot. The offerings therefore differ in format: the whisper-boat tour follows a route through the old city harbors, while Portlantis expeditions enter the port area beyond the fences. Portlantis’s red exterior staircases lead to the panoramic level.
Routes through the city and countryside
Four signposted routes in downtown Rotterdam run along the Maas. They are 3.5, 5, 10 and 21 kilometers long. The Rotterdam Rent routes can be used for walking, cycling and skating. The different distances give you a concrete range of options without assuming a particular walking or cycling time.
The Green Marathon Route is a route of more than 42 kilometers through the city. It passes through parks, canals, gardens, dike paths, country lanes, forests and farmland. Compared with the four shorter routes, it is considerably longer and covers a wider range of different landscapes. Anyone who values green spaces when exploring will find a different kind of route here than on the routes along the Maas.
Gardens, wildlife and views
Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum is an eight-hectare botanical garden in Kralingen. Its collections include trees, shrubs, perennials, flower bulbs and tubers. The grounds feature English-style gardens, a developing woodland garden, and a desert greenhouse with cacti and succulents. Workshops, markets and other activities are held regularly. The different garden areas offer several botanical themes within one visit.
Diergaarde Blijdorp offers close-up insights into wildlife in carefully designed habitats and features eight themed areas. The zoo also contributes to nature conservation and the care of endangered animal species. For a completely different perspective, there is the 185-meter-high Euromast: its Euroscoop offers panoramic views from up to 180 meters high. The nature and view experiences therefore range from designed habitats and plant collections to views from great heights.
Discover more destinations: Pernis, Hoogvliet Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland.
Return to the main travel overview: Rotterdam.
